VINTAGE AUDIO TUBE

Sunday, November 15, 2015

okay, I'm not a technician, I'm commercial photographer with passion in portraiture, wedding journalism and black and white photography..
and also with flame on technic of everything, machinery, fabrication, electronics, electrics and even engines!

Saturday, November 14, 2015

hello there!
After few years collecting parts and learning about L'Sit Amplifier from various DIY audio blogger and forum.. i build this massive amplifier.
It still new, no more than 24h from the first singing in my shifu's home yesterday.
let's the configuration speaks..
power supply from single 300VA power transformer with dual 18v secondary. each winding for each channel. rectified with International Rectifier followed with computer grade Kendeil K02 47000uF - air core 2.2mH - 47000uF - Sikorel 10000uF bypassed with REL CAP 20uF
Bias supply using single petit toroidal transformer - capacitance multiplier - 7912 and end capacitor supply bypassed again with REL CAP 20uF don't asks me why using this cap for bypass.. i'm using what I had in my drawer :)

As is forums and internet's peoples said.. this is hot amplifier.
i'm still using 1.8A bias. and the casing of VFET can reach almost 60 degree celcius.
heatsink temperature almost 45 degree celsius.
both measured with IR thermometer in 37 degree celcius ambient temperature..
i'm living in Surabaya. very hot lately...... and air con not avalaible in my working room...

so now I'm presenting.... my newly build L'SIT Amp, aka hot amp, aka heavy amp :)
27kgs makes my back and arms a little twisted, i just feel this morning that i had muscles!
cheers mate!

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Yesterday I had a chance to swap 80Mhz clock to 100Mhz clock, now Amanero USB with sabre can sing DSD files fluently, not still as good using SPIF, need to build Amanero isolator board from diyinhk.com
and maybe tweak the power supply for Amanero.
But for now sabre with 100Mhz clock sound better than 80Mhz clock, I dunno why, I have not measuring equipment, just two ears :)

My friend loan me a pair of Lundahl LL1570 XL, so why not try it on my Sabre :)
and, yes the result is amazing. I put 10k parallel with Rifa 10uF, bypassed with Vishay MKP1837 100nF and vishay MKP1830 10nF cap between primary CT to chassis ground as audiodesignguide.com mentioned how to put Lundahl LL1684.
Amazing staging and tonality, but too much polite sound for my ears.
I need a little more dynamics.
Maybe I must try tube stage(s) after v/i transformer, or push pull tube circuit using output transformer.
still need a lot of learning.
cheers and happy monday everybody!

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Finally, my DAC.. almost finish.
Just the SPDIF input only for now, already installed Amanero USB board but not yet upgrade the clock, I installed 80 Mhz CMOS TCXO 3.3v which is cannot playing DSD files fluently, hiss (like burst of white noise) when changed from tracks.
Hifiduino confirmed that.
I learned a lot to build this DAC, new technology which is capable to blend between hardware (ES9018 it self, power supply design regulator design, transformer v/i out, spdif TTL...) and software (Arduino) and don't forget the metalworks
This is my first journey soldering SMD parts, micro controller.
now let the pictures talk...

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

After build several DAC, PCM 63 with tube stage, non oversampling AD1865, shunt regulated-tube stage, now *drum rolls* time for ES9018!
Actually I owned this PCB with embedded chip since last year, from www.diyinhk.com but I have no time to studying and to build this board until few month ago.
I installed with what I had in my drawer, china made SMD 1206 resistors, Murata X7R SMD capacitors, and -forgot the name- ferrite beads 2A 600 Ohm.

Main power supply using Sanken ultra fast recovery diode, RL3z which i have from friend, thanks mate!
First capacitor tank is Kendeil 22,000uF, regulator using LT1085 Adjustable, last capacitor using Silmic for AVCC and Oscon 1500uF SEPC for digital supply both delivered 5.3v
AVCC power supply using low impedance power supply-LED V ref-OPA620SG (obsolete, beautiful and glamourous look, very precisely)-now using BC560B as final transistor, will try ZTX550...
this AVCC will supply 3.45v for AVCC of ES9018
VDD supply regulated by LT1733 3.3v non adjustable, I'm using two, one for VDD of ES9018 and another for clock supply.

Clock now I'm using what I had, KDS 80 Mhz 3.3v already ordered Pletronics SMD CMOS Oscilator 100 Mhz 3.3v which is still on his journey to my door :)

I decided using V/I transformer out after spying Andrea Ciuffoli and experimenting with friend's ES using balance to unbalance transformer.
Look at he twin black tower on the back, that is what I will using. 10K+10K:10K forgot the current capability, but I'm sure that will never blown away, 65H at 20hz, thats what I remembered.

I planned using Arduino controller, which has several benefits, user can set parameters, and digital volume control. on the photo, there are Arduino compatible, 20x4 display, ALPS rotary encoder 30 steps with switch.

Still waiting the overkill c core transformer for power transformer, 8v 5a each rail is a little bit overkill maybe?
And also the 100Mhz clock itself.
and also SPDIF buffer
and also hardware working, i mean the real hardware! drilling aluminum chassis, make window for LCD etc.
Still a lot of work and fun to do in spare time...

The Furutech The FI-10R Rhodium played IEC Inlet employ nylon/fibre-glass housing and high-conductivity phosphor bronze base metal. The Furutech FI-10 is a significant upgrade for most components, as most stock inlets are made of nickel-plated brass with a PVC body.

When used in conjunction with the Furutech FI-25 series of IEC plugs on your power lead, you'll have a connection that has a very tight grip, in addition to great sound! This IEC inlet is simple to install, and does NOT require soldering. The wires are simply screwed into the inlet.

About Me

I'm a commercial wedding photographer, portraitist, who's love in Jazz music and tube world.
This blog is dedicated for tube lover and DIYer.
You can call me at +62 81 550 275 96 in business hour, or just drop sms anytime.
Regards,
Handoko